Starting device



w. LINGO STARTING DEVICE June 7, 1932.

Filed May 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR o 3 J. L4 L 9 M 9m lll/ 9 O 0 9 A lm ,w F A, W a ,v 0 9/ 6 ATTOR NE 3m 7, m2 W. UNGQ mamw STARTING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 7 1932 tan FTENT WILLIAM LINGQ, F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA sr'rrne nisvrcn Application alea ma a, rear. Serial in. 584,997.

This invention relates to starting devices for internal combustion engines and the like and has for the primary object, the provision of a shock absorber for the starter pinion to relieve the various parts of undue strain when the starter takes'up the load of starting the engine and obviates the coiled spring now used for such a purpose and which has proven to be unsatisfactory due to the frequency with which such springs break and render the starter inoperative.

Another ob ect of this invention is the provision of a cushion drive between the starter motor shaft and the starter pinion to absorb shocks and jars due to the starter pinion engaging the teeth of the fly wheel of the engine, thereby providing a device which will render eficient service over a long period of time and one which obviates manual attention.

. which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating a starting device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the same.

Figure. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is-a sectional view taken on the line 4-4: of Figure 2. 1

Figure 5 is an end View illustrating the driving plate as attached to the starter motor shaft and forming a part of the shock absorber means. I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the device associated with a portion of a starter motor.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modified form of spring cushioning means for the shock absorber.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a fragmentary portion of a starter motor which usually is in the form of an electric motor while the reference numeral 2 indicates the armature shaft thereof and has'its free end journalled in a bearin 3 carried by a bracket 41 forming a part of t e housing of the electric motor. A driving plate 5 is keyed as shown at 6 and .is further secured to said shaft by a set bolt 7 which prevents the drivi-ng plate from moving longitudinally of the shaft. A cushion disk 8 of rubber or like material is mounted on the shaft 2 and abuts the driving plate 5 and is provided with sockets 9 to receive pins 10 carried by the driving plate for the purpose of rotating the cushion disk by the rotation of the plate 5.

An annular member 11 is mounted on the shaft 2 and abuts the cushion disk 8 and has formed therein chambers 12 divided by abutments 13 which are provided with screwthreaded sockets 14 to receive the screwthreaded ends 15 of pins 16 extending into sockets 17 formed in the cushion disk 8 for the purpose of establishing a driving connection between the cushion disk and the annular member 11. A sleeve 18 is journalled on the shaft and has formed upon one end an annular portion 19 provided with screw-threaded sockets to receive the screw-threaded extensions 20 of blocks 21 which are positioned within the chambers 12 and engage upon opposite faces thereof by coiled springs 22. The opposite ends of the coiled springs bear against the abutments 13 thus establishin a yieldable drive between the annular memer .11 and the sleeve 18. The annular portion 19 of the sleeve 18 has detachably secured thereto by fasteners 23 a combined wear and clo-' sure plate 2% which closes the chambers 12 and retains the springs therein and also limits the movement of a starter pinion 24' in one direction. The sleeve 18 has formed thereon feed threads'25 to mesh with corresponding threads formed on the interior of the starter pinion 24. The sleeve 18 has a to the shaft 2 reduced screw-threaded portion on which is threaded a stop collar 26 located adjacent the bearing 3 for limiting the movement of the starter pinion 24 in an opposite direction. As shown in Figure 2, the sleeve 18 is provided with the reduced portion received in the bearing 3.

The rotation of the shaft 2 by the motor 1 causes a corresponding rotation of the sleeve 18 through the drivin plate 5, cushion disk 8, and the shock absor er means between the inner end of the sleeve and the cushion disk 8 and the rotation of the sleeve causes the pinion 24' to move endwise toward the bearing 3 for meshing the teeth thereof with the teeth on a fly wheel 27 and which constitutes a part of an internal combustion engine.

As soon as the engine starts underits ownpower and the stop of the motor 1, the starter pinion 24 returns to its normal position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 bearing against the wear plate 24.

The starter pinion has formed thereon an annular bead 28 adapted to have frictional contact with a cushion block 29 supported by a bracket 30 mounted on the bracket 4 for the purpose of providing a drag on the pinion to cause the same to feed forwardly of the sleeve when the latter is rotated.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that when the pinion 24 engages the teeth of the fly wheel and the starter motor 1 takes up the action of rotating the engine, the shock absorbing means between the sleeve and shaft 2 will give so as to absorb the sudden strain on these parts and thereby permit the device to render eflicient service with long life.

Referring to Figure 7 which illustratesa modified form of annular member. 31 which has formed therein a single abutment 32 which provides a pair of chambers 33 'in which are located springs34. A block 35 carried by the sleeve 18 extends into said chambers 33 and has the opposite faces thereof engaged by the coiled springs. This form of my nvention reduces the number of parts such as springs, abutments and blocks over my preferred form ofinvention.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in con struction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and'scope of my inventlon, as

. claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: r

1. Astarting device including a shaft of a starting motor, a feed sleeve journalled on the shaft, a starter pinion threaded to said sleeve and moved endwise' by the rotation thereof to engage the teeth of a fly wheel of an englne, a driving, plate secured to, the

shaft, a cushion disk mounted on the shaftand secured to the driving plate, and a yieldable driving means between the cushion disk and the sleeve. V

2. A starting device including a shaft of a starting motor, a feed sleeve journalled on the shaft, a starter pinion threaded to said sleeve, a driving plate secured to the shaft, a cushion disk mounted on the shaft and abutting the plate and having sockets, pins carried by the plate and extending into the sockets, an annular member carried on the shaft, pins carried by the annular member and extending into the cushion disk and a yieldable driving connection between the annular member and the sleeve.

3. A stagting' device including a shaft of a startin motor, a feed sleeve journalled on said sha t, a starter pinion threaded to said sleeve, a cushion disk on the shaft, a driving connection between the shaft and the cushion disk, an-annular member journalled on the shaft and receiving one end of the sleeve and having chambers journalled therein, abutments formed in the annular member, driving means between the annular member and the disk, blocks carried by the sleeve and received in said chamber, cushioning springs between the abutments and the blocks, and a wear plate secured to the sleeve for closing the chambers and forming a hearing surface for the starter pinion to engage.

4. A starting device including a shaft of a starting motor, a feed sleeve journalled on said shaft, a starter pinion threaded on said sleeve, a cushion disk journalled on the shaft, driving means between the cushion disk and the shaft, an annular member journalled on the shaft, driving means between the cushion disk and the annular member, a cushion driving means between the annular member and the sleeve,.'and a retarding device engaging the pinion.

In testimony whereof I affix my si ature.

WILLIAM LI GO. 

